An hour after England's rather Abject performance against a rather average European Qualifying opponent (albeit one with some form and no small amount of determination) the inquest is in full flow. Capello must go. Crouch is Rubbish. Kevin Davies isn't good enough. But frankly you can say what you want and nothing much will change.
We had a Swede in charge - he was critisised for his stubborness and lack of plan B. Unhappy with the foreigner in charge we give the job to an Englishman. He was inexperienced. Was this the best Englishman the FA could find? Back to European managers and the Italian then. 6 million a year we pay him yet no demands to learn to speak our language. I'd be an expert in Italian for even 600k per year Fabio. Now some want to give the job back to an Englishman.
Truth is it's the players that generate the results on the pitch and at the moment we look like an old comfort blanket. Much loved but fragile and threadbare. There are still good patches here and there but in many other parts we are in need of serious repair.
Why are we here.
The Premier league was set up with the vision of helping the English FA have a good national team. It has failed miserably. The managers continually moan about the lack of a winter break; stupid international friendlies a week before the season starts and players often limp off "injured" before international matches only to return fully fit when the EPL resumes. It's a joke and a farce. And then there is the ludicrous sums of money paid in transfer fees and wages which mean Man City Chelsea Manchester United Spurs Villa Birmingham Liverpool and others can buy in players from all over the world; limiting the opportunities for English players. The home grown rule is pathetic and pays lip service to the objective. It won't change the focus on the elite picking better players from other countries.
The other thing that the wages have created is a breed of footballers whose love for the game has been lost. There are too many matches in Europe. The Europa League or Champions league added to the League Cup, FA Cup, Premier League and no winter break makes the international footballers' calendar already too busy. These are games he will have to play in under contract to keep him employed or to seek a move upward. When England comes knocking too many of them see it as an unwelcome obligation. They may love their country but they are burnt out and tired.
How many of them are currently injured. Terry, Upson, Walcott, Bent, just to name a few. And their clubs are the ones who pay their weekly wage - their primary obligation from a fitness point of view will be to club not country.
If we want England to be a serious challenger at international level then the structure of the game in England needs a drastic change. NO to foreign owners. Salary capping. No to the league cup - at least for Premier League teams - and with that an End to the pointless paint cup. A two week winter break between FA Cup 3 and FA Cup 4 in January. Possibly even a reduction in the number of teams in the Premier League.
It can be done but the FA are now the dog being wagged by the Premier League tail. Football is more about the businesses off the pitch, and with that England's national team has become a side show to the main event of making money. In addition to that the working class game has been stolen from the working class by ever increasing ticket prices against the backdrop of a recession, needed to pay greedy mercenary players and satisfy the debts or profits required in the shareholders and the boardroom.
In reality football as we knew it has changed. England has got a great league but we haven't got enough English talent at the top table or a path for it to be uncovered and developed. The England national team will always come second until the current model is broken. And with more and more fans prefering club to country the will for that to happen is fading fast.
In the current climate I don't have much optimism. Time for others to wake up and smell the coffee. It's brazillian of course.
